THIP Chapter 26 V1

After everything was over.

Mu Liuyin’s lashes trembled slightly as a tear, still clinging to her lashes, slipped down. She looked at Si Yibing, who had her wrapped tightly in her arms. Activating Xiao Jiu’s silent mode, she gently crawled out of Si Yibing’s embrace while the latter remained fast asleep.

She put on her clothes, though her legs were still trembling slightly. In that moment, she had never been more thankful for her S-type physique—otherwise, she likely wouldn’t even be able to stand.

How did it come to this?

Xiao Jiu had reminded her that her heat cycle would arrive around this time. She just didn’t expect it to hit so suddenly and without warning.

Xiao Jiu could disguise her scent to make her seem like an Alpha, but it couldn’t mask her heat cycle. Before she came of age, she didn’t experience heat and didn’t need suppressants. But in the three years since, she had relied on Xiao Jiu’s reminders to inject herself ahead of time.

Still, long-term suppressant use had its consequences—her cycle became irregular. If not for Xiao Jiu, she wouldn’t have dared to use suppressants so consistently.

And yet… she still ended up falling into Si Yibing’s hands.

Did she not have any feelings for Si Yibing?
Mu Liuyin asked herself honestly.

But in this world… she was just a passerby.

She walked over to Si Yibing, who was still sleeping thanks to Xiao Jiu’s silent effect. Leaning in, she kissed her gently on the brow.

The next morning, Si Yibing woke up to an empty bed.

Completely stunned, she searched every corner of the room but couldn’t find even a trace of Mu Liuyin.

The joy of having marked the person she liked vanished like smoke. It was as if someone had dumped a bucket of ice water over her head.

Xiao Suyu had left.

Was she blaming her? Was she angry that Si Yibing had marked her while she was in heat?

Si Yibing forced herself to calm down. She must’ve gone to the military base. If she just acted a little cute and pitiful, Xiao Suyu would forgive her.

With that thought, she rushed to the military only to be met with news that shattered her expectations:

“Captain Suyu applied for a post on Hanhai Star. She left with the fleet before dawn.”

Si Yibing froze completely. She didn’t even know how she made it back to the palace.

All she could think about was—Xiao Suyu had left her. Would she ever forgive her?

When the emperor saw his usually stoic daughter looking so downcast and pitiful, he was taken aback.

At her birthday banquet the night before, Si Yibing had disappeared halfway through, forcing the event to end early.

He had a few well-matched Omegas in mind for her and was just about to ask her opinion when she suddenly said:

“I already like someone.”

The emperor was surprised. “Whose Omega is it? When will you bring her home for me to meet?”

Thinking of Mu Liuyin, now stationed on Hanhai Star, Si Yibing replied,

“She’s not from a noble family. And she’s not in the capital right now.”

The emperor frowned. Si Yibing added,

“Once I win her back, I’ll bring her home. But first… I’d like to visit Hanhai Star.”

The emperor sighed. He knew his time was short—he probably didn’t even have two months left—and his daughter was still caught up in romantic whims.

With her personality, finding true love with an Omega was going to be almost impossible.

He sighed and said:

“I won’t stop you from chasing love… but you must stay in the capital for the next two months.”

Si Yibing frowned and was about to ask why when she suddenly remembered her father’s chronic illness. Her lips parted slightly.

“Only two months left?”

The emperor looked at her steadily.

“Yibing, remember this—protecting the Empire is a duty you can never turn away from.”

Her heart ached. She nodded solemnly.

On Hanhai Star, Mu Liuyin stepped off the military ship with her superior, gazing at the newly rebuilt settlements and factories. She thought,

When the new Insect Empress is born, all of this will be destroyed again.

Though the surface of Hanhai Star appeared peaceful, it had become the heart of the insectoid forces. The egg of the new queen lay deep within the planet’s core. Beneath the surface, countless insectoids—both generals and foot soldiers—waited in hiding.

Since the death of the previous Empress, they had lain in wait, preparing to strike once their new leader was born.

Xiao Jiu hadn’t detected any of this until Mu Liuyin stepped foot on the planet. No one knew when exactly the insectoids relocated here.

To destroy the insectoids, the entire planet would have to be obliterated.

But if they tried evacuating the locals now, the insectoids would immediately notice.

After long consideration, Mu Liuyin realized: she had to take this one step at a time.

There were fewer than six months until the new Insect Empress hatched.

She opened her comms and found dozens of messages from Si Yibing, all filled with apologies. Even through the screen, she could feel her panic.

Imagining Si Yibing’s pitiful expression, Mu Liuyin couldn’t help but smile softly.

She read the latest message:

“In two months, I’ll be crowned. Please come back.”

Mu Liuyin sighed. She typed and retyped a reply… but in the end, she didn’t send anything.